First Christian Church of Huber Heights
Sunday morning worship message.
Life is more a matter of choice than a matter of chance.
Choice is a God-given gift that determines what our life is like. The right resolve transforms our life. We make our choices and then our choices make us.
Hebrews 11:23-27 NIV
I. Refuse to be defined by others.
Moses was born a Hebrew slave and raised an Egyptian prince. When he grew up he had to decide, "Who am I?" He refused to live a lie any longer.
Who are you letting determine your identity?
Romans 12:2, Phillips Translation
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your mind from within, so you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good.”
Exodus 23:2 NIV
1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT
John 17:14, the Message
“They are no more defined by the world than I am defined by the world!”
When you know who you are, it sets you free from fear of what people think.
Most people are afraid of criticism, disapproval and rejection. Envy and people pleasing says, "I must be like you to be happy." This will keep you from the life God created you to live. Live for an audience of One.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
2. Choose short-term pain for long-term gain.
Most life problems come from inability to delay gratification. Culture teaches, "I want it all. I want it now. I want it free, and I want it easy." Life doesn't work this way in finances, relationships, health or spirituality.
Hebrews 11:25 NIV
Sin gives short-term pleasure.
You are free to choose but you can never choose the choice without choosing the consequence.
God chose Moses when he was a baby and when he was a grown man, Moses had to choose God. It's a matter of maturity and responsibility.
Where do you need to start accepting responsibility for your life?
Who are you blaming? You are as happy as you choose to be. Happiness is a choice. Being close to God is a choice. You can't live off someone else's spirituality.
We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners to it. It has influenced you, but it doesn’t have to control you. Others can scar your life, but nobody but you can ruin your life. You have the power of choice.
God has promises for our pain.
Romans 5:3-4 NCV
2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT
2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT
3. Choose God’s values, not the world’s.
Hebrews 11:26 NIV
Clarify what matters most.
If you can't name the top three to five values of your life, sit down to determine what they are and write them out. If you can't say them, you can't live them.
1 John 2:17 GNTD
God's Value System
A. God's purpose is more valuable than popularity.
B. People are more important than pleasure.
C. Peace of mind is more valuable than possessions.
Vision sets values. What you are looking at will determine what you value.
4. Choose to live by faith rather than by fear.
Hebrews 11:27 NIV
The closer you get to God the less fear you have in your life.
"Whatever is not of faith is sin." (Ro. 14:23) "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11:6) "According to you faith it will be done to you." (Mt. 9:29)
God doesn’t respond to your complaints, He listens to your faith. Stop complaining & start believing.
It’s not size of faith that matters, but the size of the God you put your faith in. Little faith in big God gets big results.
Galatians 2:16 CEVDCI
Hebrews 10:24-25 GNTD
Isaiah 50:7 NLT